Amanda Knox’s aunt, Christina Hagge, also a West Seattle resident, just updated her Amanda Defense Fund website. Knox's trial’s online presence, including new websites, has been kicked up a notch since her Dec. 4 guilty verdict and the 427-page “motivation document” recently released.

Amanda Knox’s persona explored in new & upgraded websites

By

04/05/2010

Four months have passed since the guilty verdicts were reached for West Seattle UW student, Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, for the murder of Knox’s roommate, Meredith Kercher, stabbed to death in that historic college town Nov. 1, 2007. Unemployed drifter, Rudy Guede, was also found guilty, but that verdict was reached over a year ago. In mid-March of this year a 427-page “motivation document” was released in Italian. Judges from the court there issued it spelling out the motive for the murder. Knox’s family is appealing the verdict.

According to that document, the motive for Knox and Sollecito to kill Ms. Kercher was marijuana that triggered a violent rage. Since Knox was first arrested the prosecution changed her motive four times, from a “cult sacrifice,” to a “sex-orgy-gone-wrong,” to “theft of 300 Euros,” to “jealousy,” to “a rage caused by smoking marijuana.”

A new, robust “pro-Amanda” website capitalizes on this “refer madness” motive, and other aspects of the case it finds troubling, called www.injusticeinperugia.org, started by an American, Bruce Fisher.

Two popular websites have been posting since the crime, the pro-Amanda www.perugia-shock.blogspot.com, authored by Italian journalist Frank Sfarzo who reported in English regularly from the Perugia courtroom, and the “Amanda-is-guilty” site, www.truejustice.org, operated by New Jersey resident Peter Quennell.

Another “Amanda-is-guilty” Facebook page calls for Knox to receive the death sentence. Sources tell the West Seattle Herald that complaints have been made to Facebook to remove the site both for its content and celebrative tone.

“I have been following this case since early 2008,” said Fisher. “I started ‘Injustice in Perugia’ because I was shocked to see how this case was being reported. Amanda Knox has been horribly mistreated in the press.

“She had absolutely no history of violence in her past,” he said. “She worked several jobs to save the money needed to participate in the study-abroad program in Italy and excelled in her studies. The extraordinary accusations made against her would require extraordinary evidence. The evidence simply wasn't there.

“A website was actually created to spread misinformation and outright lies about Knox,” added Fisher. “What makes the ‘pro-guilt’ site even more reprehensible is that it wraps the entire package of lies in the memory of Meredith Kercher. There are photos of Meredith all over the site. It is set up as a memorial to her. But using Meredith to promote hate is horribly disrespectful to Meredith and her family. Meredith and her family deserve justice. Imprisoning two innocent people will bring no peace and, certainly, no justice for Meredith Kercher.”

“My purpose is to show who the real Amanda is, not the Amanda falsely portrayed in early newspaper reports,” Hagge told the West Seattle Herald. Hagge posted never-published photos of her niece in addition to some familiar images. A photograph of a dove in flight is prominently displayed on the front page, rear-lit by the sun.

“Amanda wrote a story about a dream she had as a dove flying free from prison,” Hagge said. “So I included that photo for her.”

High-profile Seattle attorney Anne Bremner has not been hired by Knox’s family but has been an outspoken advocate for Knox’s and Sollecito’s release from prison. She helped establish the first Knox-support website, www.friendsofamanda.com, which also is frequently updated. She often appears on CNN, ABC Good Morning America, and other media. She told the West Seattle Herald she was glad to see new sites promoting their innocence.

“The world has seen an injustice and the world has reacted,” Bremner said.

We encourage our readers to comment. No registration is required. We ask that you keep your comments free of profanity and keep them civil. They are moderated and objectionable comments will be removed.

Comments

I will be more than happy to discuss the details of this case with anyone that is interested. For those of you that simply called me a liar. Please explain further. Instead of throwing insults around, we should honestly be discussing the actual facts. Angry comments simply provide a distraction from the truth.

To discuss this case further you can leave a message on the discussion board on the site.

Please take a step back from all of this anger. Please take a closer look at the so called evidence presented by the prosecution. If you take a closer look., the truth becomes very clear. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito have been wrongly convicted.

I think the deleted comments are simply a glitch. The West Seattle Herald is not known for deleting comments. If you look at other articles related to this case, you will see that all points of view are posted.

The first 10 comments on this board that have disappeared were overwhelmingly pro-Amanda and Guest 6:35 knows that.

A couple of weeks ago some comments in another WSH article by Steve Shay also disappeared without explanation. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary the cause it presumed to be technical and not philosophical I was watching fairly closely and the deleted comments were from both sides.

It is important that the record be properly preserved. In one of the other threads the anti-Amanda trolls were making allegations of racism, use of the "N" word, and other bigotry.

Steve Shay's article was first rate. In contrast to the work of Barbie Latza Nadeau, Steve Shay adheres to the highest journalist standards.

Consider the following: A few months ago Larry King interviewed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian leader was asked point blank: "yes or no did the Holocaust happen." Ahmadinejad could not bring himself to say yes. The true answer is that the Holocaust did happen... period.

The moral of the story is that journalistic neutrality does not have to be half way between what two people are saying.

When you're looking for something you really want to find (guilt), it's easy to overlook and ignore anything that doesn't match your idea of what you expect to see. Investigation of a crime should be done by carefully studying evidence to come up with a plausible theory and suspect(s). From what I’ve read, Italian police and prosecutors didn’t do that. They looked at Amanda’s naïve behavior they considered inappropriate and decided they wanted her as a suspect. They weren’t looking for the truth. They manufactured a preposterous theory and subjectively interpreted all evidence (and many irrelevant facts) to support it. It’s about time someone put together a proper rebuttal to all the slanderous myths being circulated about her. Great job on the website, Bruce!

You are embarrassing yourself with the repeated lies about the PR team. We are all independent voices that are standing up against an injustice. The West Seattle Herald is not being paid by the Knox family. You accusations are laughable.

Amada's family has worked very hard to set the story straight about their daughter. There is only so much they can do. Amanda's family is an ordinary family that has been caught up in a long drawn out nightmare. They are continuously attacked for trying to defend their innocent daughter. I can't imagine my daughter being in Amanda's situation. Amanda's family has been incredibly strong during their ordeal but they need help. The vicious attacks on their family are simply to great to be fought alone. People are standing up to help them in their struggle.

I am offering my help. I am not being paid. Stop the lies. You look foolish.

"what, exactly, is the connection between the WSH & members of the Bremner/Marriott/ "Friends of Amanda Knox" group?"

Anne Bremner has not been hired by the family but she offers her professional advice because she sees that an injustice has occurred.

Marriott was hired by the Knox family as a spokesperson. He presumably helps to set up interviews with networks. The Knox family has the right to try and defend their daughter from the constant attacks in the media.

Friends of Amanda was created by a group of people that saw an injustice and wanted to help. This group is not being paid for their efforts.

The West Seattle Herald is a newspaper. I think you probably already know this. At least I hope you do. They are not being paid by the Knox family.

I created the Injustice in Perugia site. I have never met the Knox family and I am not being paid for my efforts.
I met an outstanding group of people that were dedicated to this case. The efforts of this group are completely voluntary. I was honored to join them. With their help I created the website.

There is no big PR team. This is a common lie that continues to be spread throughout the internet.

"I will be more than happy to discuss the details of this case with anyone that is interested. For those of you that simply called me a liar. Please explain further. Instead of throwing insults around, we should honestly be discussing the actual facts. Angry comments simply provide a distraction from the truth. "

The Judges reports are the truth and your stuff contradicts the truth, not only that you keep repeating your false statements on every web site.

Do I believe honest judges and juries who tried the three criminals or do I believe the associates of the convicted murderess!

There is an excellent reason why support grows for Amanda and Raffaele. It's because the Italian Court answered the following question in the affirmative: If a person can neither be proven innocent nor guilty of a crime beyond any kind of reasonable doubt, then could this person be found guilty in spite of it not being shown beyond a reasonable doubt?

The stunning unfairness of what's been done to Amanda and Raffaele takes your breath away....and, it draws those who learn more of the case to the support of these two innocent college kids. There would be little support for Amanda and Raffaele if the Italian prosecution had been able to show them to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And, if the prosecution had shown through credible evidence that these kids were very likely guilty, then support for them would not be growing.....there would be no new websites and blogs being created in their defense.

Another aspect to consider is this: Had the Italian prosecution team proven Amanda and Raffaele guilty beond a reasonable doubt, then almost no one outside of their families and very close friends would even take a serious interest in trying to free them as innocents wrongfully convicted. And, you can be sure, there would be very, very few who would be willing to risk being indicted by the Italian justice system by speaking and writing in defense of Amanda and Raffaele.....if the prosecution had shown them to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, this isn't the case....the fact is that the Italian prosecution team was not able to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in Amanda and Raffaele. And, just as outspoken men and women of good will have done through the ages, many are highly critical of the Italian justice system....many don't want to send their sons and daughters to travel and/or study in Italy and risk their lives or freedom to the deeply flawed system of jusice that can put an innocent girl in prison partly based on confused statements harvested while the accused was not allowd an attorney, deprived of food and water, not allowed to go to the bathroom, and verbally and physically abused.

You said: "The West Seattle Herald is a newspaper. I think you probably already know this. At least I hope you do. They are not being paid by the Knox family."
__________________________________

What, exactly, then is Shay's connection to the "Friends of Amanda Knox" support group, or to Amanda's parents?

Why has Shay never once covered the perspective of Meredith Kercher's friends & family? (To wit, the OTHER side of the story.)

(They all think Amanda is guilty - so do ALL of the other girls that lived in the cottage with Amanda & Meredith - yet WSH readers never hear their side of the story from Shay or anyone else at the WSH.)

"Fair & balanced" is the doctrine that guides the work of the professional journalist, but I've seen no balance whatsoever in the WSH's (or Shays's) coverage of this case.

If I missed an article by the WSH (or Shay) detailing the perspective of Meredith's family & friends, rather than those of Amanda, please feel free to provide a link.

1) Physically abused during interrogation
2) Interrogated without a translator or lawyer for some time
3) Denied house arrest during investigation (for a year before charges filed) because she "showed no remorse" for the crime she did not do. How do you show remorse when you're innocent? If you show remorse, aren't you guilty by definition?
4) Illegal interrogation thrown out by Italian Supreme Court
5) Recording of interrogation "somehow nonexistent"
6) Illegal leak of evidence leading to character assasination in tabloid press years before trial
7) Trial halted for a month while prosecution refused to disclose evidence
8) DNA evidence so small as to be illegitimate, further destroyed so additional analysis cannot be done
9) Motives changed and changed again since the evidence did not fit
10) Final verdict based on jurist's own version of a motive not presented in court, because the prosecution's motive(s) were not believed

What else???

If THIS was a fair trial, I'd hate to be a victim of an unfair one. AND SO WOULD YOU.

"There is an excellent reason why support grows for Amanda and Raffaele. It's because the Italian Court answered the following question in the affirmative: If a person can neither be proven innocent nor guilty of a crime beyond any kind of reasonable doubt, then could this person be found guilty in spite of it not being shown beyond a reasonable doubt? "

Knox was shown guilty without any doubt what so ever.

All judges who had the power to drop the case against the murderess had chosen not to do so.

I have a romantic view of journalism: the Fourth Power that reports objective events and informs us of the plain facts.
When journalists become mercenaries it's a clear indication of decadence of our society.

I have a romantic view of journalism: the Fourth Power that reports objective events and informs us of the plain facts.
When journalists become mercenaries it's a clear indication of decadence of our society.

"Different Survey, different Result
The results of my survey: Not enough evidence to convict. - 100%
What is the confidence interval in your survey, and what survey sample size.
Just made it up, did ya! Thought so."

Your survey has absolutely no validity.

It is the people via their representatives the Court who judged the murderess Amanda Knox.

"Comments Deleted
There were about 10 comments deleted.
Why?
Is it because they dared to question Amanda's "innocence"?
Is the WSHerald a one-sided PR device for Amanda Knox & Co. or is it a newspaper?
"

I might be able to answer this.

It appears that the WSH is part of the PR campaign, for you will not find a single article that does not support the "Amanda Knox is a Saint" deception attempt.

If they had any integrity left than they would report the news not influence and manufacture the news.

No American— no human being of any nationality— should be wrongfully convicted. Amanda and Raffaele are innocent. Many articles were printed over the past two years that are filled with misinformation. Look past false prejudices. Please take time to look at the actual facts of this case. Meredith Kercher and her family deserve justice. Imprisoning two innocent people brings neither peace nor justice for Meredith.

The harshest and most draconian tool in the Italian inquisitor style judicial system is solitary confinement. Prosecutor Mignini asked for 9 months of solitary confinement for both Knox and Sollecito. There is absolutely no judicial reason for this except pure vengeance on the part of an evildoer.

Additionally, Italy does not give a prisoner credit for time already served. Italy can hold a prisoner for one full year and does not have to anything for that year. It s intended to "break" a prisoner, as they "broke" Knox and Sollecito.

Actually, the American justice system is not modeled after the Italian system. If my Constitutional law memory serves me correctly, Italy uses the "accusatory" or "inquisitorial" system where the court serves a role as fact-finder. In America, we use the "adversarial" system where the court's role is limited to hearing the arguments of each side and coming to an impartial verdict. The perception of the Italian system is that the accused carries the burden of proof to show innocence; whereas in the American system the accused is innocent until proven guilty and the burden of proof is on the prosecution. Just a point of clarification

If Martin Luther King were alive today and witnessed Amanda & Co. play their "blame it on the black guy" games over the last 2.5 years, I don't think he'd approve of their (incorrectly worded) use of his oft quoted line.

Or are you forgetting:

a) Amanda's false accusation of Patrick Lumumba;

b) Edda's failure to immediately inform police of Amanda's false accusation when she became aware of the injustice;

c) Amanda's 1.5 year effort to deny having ever met Rudy Guede when, in point of fact, she'd known Rudy longer than she'd known Sollectio (6 days); &

d) the ongoing effort by Amanda's supporters to pin it ALL on Rudy despite clear indications he acted in concert with Amanda.

I am disgusted that the reps of a rich white girl would DARE to invoke Dr. King's words in her defense after she tried to blame everything she did on every black man she'd ever met.